A premature baby’s journey through the rocky mountains of Dong Van

At Dong Van Regional General Hospital, nestled among the rocky mountains of northern Vietnam, baby Mua* entered the world at just 33 weeks of gestation, weighing only 1.7 kilograms.

Being born this early meant that many of Mua’s organs, especially the lungs, were still not fully developed. Premature babies face a high risk of breathing difficulties immediately after birth, and Mua was no exception. The newborn was diagnosed with neonatal respiratory distress.

Photo: Dong Van Regional General Hospital Website

From the very first moments of life, Mua’s world was filled with the constant hum of medical equipment in the neonatal unit.

For six days, a CPAP machine, provided by the German Embassy through VinaCapital Foundation’s Survive to Thrive program, supported the baby’s fragile lungs. An injection pump delivered precise doses of medication and nutrition while Mua was still too weak to feed independently. Under the gentle glow of phototherapy lights, the medical team continued to monitor and care for the newborn around the clock.

Photo: VinaCapital Foundation

Day by day, Mua grew stronger. After two weeks of treatment, the breathing support was no longer needed. The baby’s weight increased from 1.7 kilograms to 2.1 kilograms, marking a milestone made possible by the unwavering dedication of the neonatal team and the anxious hope of a family waiting just outside the ward.

Photo: VinaCapital Foundation

In remote mountainous communities like Dong Van, not every family has the means to travel to higher-level hospitals when complications arise after birth. For Mua’s mother, simply reaching the hospital to give birth required more than an hour on a motorbike along winding mountain roads. Mua is the sixth child in an eight-member H’Mong family. After delivery, the mother’s health remained fragile and her breast milk supply was limited, while the father had to continue taking daily labor jobs to support the family’s basic needs. In the midst of these challenges, having access to timely treatment at the district hospital spared the family the financial burden and risks of a long-distance transfer.

Photo: Pexels

Through the Survive to Thrive program, VinaCapital Foundation continues to mobilize support to equip more remote hospitals with essential neonatal medical equipment, giving more newborns like Mua the chance to receive life-saving care close to where they are born.

*Name changed.